Tag Archives: self-reflection

Career paths: How to decide which path to take

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Rui Pires Martins, researcher development advisor at Queen Mary University of London, encourages scientists to self-reflect in order to make future career decisions.

Guest contributor Rui Pires Martins

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I love cities, especially large, diverse ones. Moving from Toronto to Detroit for my PhD studies in 2000 made me appreciate the importance of the place I live in beyond just ‘somewhere near work’. I took the post knowing very little of the complex socioeconomic history that led to the city’s decline. After almost seven years of tough-love, it became apparent that Motown wasn’t really able to provide “city” at the level that I craved.

Even as starved for “urbania” as I was, my next move in 2007 was more guided by the reputation of the The Gurdon Institute, and of its scientists, than location (Cambridge, UK). The logistics of studying a stage of embryonic development that happened in the early morning hours would soon start to impact my work-life balance. So while my fellowship was a tremendous opportunity for my development, when I began to search for my next post, I set my sights on London. I also focused my search on groups working with embryonic stem cells, thinking I’d have more control over my working hours. In 2009, I took a position as a postdoctoral research assistant at QMUL, where I would work for just over four years.

Location: check. Work-life balance: fingers crossed. Continue reading →

Most read on Naturejobs: June 2015

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Public speaking, mobility and a bit of self-reflection have been the subject of your favourite reads on Naturejobs in June 2015.

naturejobs-readsWhat a busy month we’ve had. Again! The Naturejobs blog has published 15 new blog posts, which have been read by thousands of you.

For those that missed them when they first came out: here is a list of the top 10 most popular pieces from Naturejobs and Nature Careers this month. Happy reading!

Although it might not be immediately obvious when you first sign up to becoming a scientist, being a proficient public speaker is very important. You might have to present your work at a conference; you’ll definitely have to defend you PhD work in front of a group of peers. You’ll also have to persuade funders to give you money. In Public speaking: The elevator pitch I was inspired by an elevator pitch I had to give (not science related, unfortunately) to write a few tips on what makes a good pitch. Continue reading →

The postdoc series: Help for lost postdocs

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Self-reflection can help young researchers analyze their skills and plan for their futures.

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Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, “what road do I take?”

The cat asked, “where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know,” Alice answered.

“Then,” said the cat, “it really doesn’t matter, does it?”

— a paraphrased version of the scene in Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Karen Hinxman completed two postdocs before realising she was on the wrong road and wasn’t cut out to be a professor. “I still love science and research, but I’m better suited to my current role,” she says. Now she’s a career consultant at Imperial College London, working with other postdocs who are looking for careers advice. “The perpetual postdocs are usually still there either because they are determined to become professors, but more often than not, they don’t know what else to do.”

Hinxman’s postdoctoral experience, like that of many others we’ve seen in this series, was beneficial when it came to finding a job outside academia. She had an insider’s point of view of what life as a postdoctoral researcher was like. “What comes next very much depends on the postdoc, what kind of person they are and what career they are hoping for.” Continue reading →